South London and Maudsley foundation trust has launched an online health record that gives patients direct access to their health records.

The web portal uses Microsoft's HealthVault platform and allows patients to contribute to the system directly. According to the trust, it is the world's first patient-held electronic health record in the field of mental health.

The online service allows patients to store and manage their own health information. It also gives patients the opportunity to choose what information is shared and who it is shared with.

South London and Maudsley said that the aim of the new system is to put patients at the centre of care and allow them to be actively involved in decisions about their treatment.

Although the system has just been officially launched, the trust has been working with Microsoft on the development of the technology for a some time, with the trust announcing its plans to create the system last year. Speaking to Guardian Healthcare at the time, the trust confirmed that it was delivering the system outside of the National Programme for IT.

The web portal also gives users information about medication and support, emergency contacts and opportunities to get involved in activities and research. The trust said that it has worked with local GP practices to develop information exchanges between MyHealthLocker and GP electronic record systems.

Mike Denis, South London and Maudsley's director of information strategy, said: "This is not just about giving people access to their health records. This approach encourages a two-way flow of information between patients and their clinicians.

"It will provide patients with integrated information that gives them more control over their health and wellbeing, empowering them to make informed decisions and provide meaningful input into their own care plans and treatment methods – which will ultimately lead to better patient care. The heart of this is about openness, transparency and choice."

*This article was amended on 29 June 2012. The original referred to the launch of an online health record service by the trust called MyHealthBox. Since the launch of the service and after the article was first published, South London and Maudsley foundation trust has changed the name of MyHealthBox following a complaint that the name MyHealthBox infringed a company's trademark. The trust has now renamed the service as MyHealthLocker.